Temptations by D. T. Bourdeau

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 27, 1871

Temptations.

By D. T. Bourdeau

The Scriptures represent Satan, and not God, as the being that tempts us to evil. Yet temptations come to us in such a way that we are in danger of thinking it is God who tempts. Though Satan is compared to a roaring lion, yet he does not always roar; if he did we would avoid him, and would not yield to his temptations. He approaches us slyly, and sugar-coats the evil he wishes us to perform; so that looking at it in the light of present enjoyment and selfish satisfaction, it appears to be a virtue, and not an evil. He insinuates that it is God who moves upon us to do some good and wonderful thing, which will bring us some temporal advantages, and perhaps enable us to do more for the Lord. But we should never do evil that good may come; for though evil be clothed ever so beautifully, it is evil still, and will bring forth death in the end.

The reason why men so easily yield to temptations is because the root of evil is in them, and they choose sin because they love it. Says James, “Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust.” James 1: 14. In our fallen state we have inclinations to sin, evil traits unsubdued. There are traitors in the citadel of our hearts who will conquer us if they are not overcome. They sympathize with Satan, and he knows it; and when he approaches us, he does it through these internal foes, who fully manifest themselves at his approach, as did traitors in the North at the approach and success of the Southern army during her late rebellion. We could not so easily know our weak points if Satan were not suffered to tempt us at times, neither would we be as successful in overcoming. In tempting us, he aims to weaken us spiritually; but if we flee to the Lord for help to subdue our evil traits and build up our weak points, every temptation will leave us stronger, and Satan’s object will be thwarted.

Now that God has undertaken the glorious work of restoring the truth in these last days, and developing a holy people on earth to meet the Lord without spot at his coming, Satan has come down in wrath to oppose this work with various temptations as he did in “the day of temptation in the wilderness.” But if we resist him, his temptations will only hasten our victory. We should, therefore, as we are exhorted by James, “count it all joy when we fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trial of our faith worketh patience. But we should let patience have her perfect work, that we may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1: 2-4; and so of the rest of the Christian graces, for we are to be tempted on every point. The carnal heart naturally desires to be delivered from temptations before they have done their work, and when in the hour of trial, darkness presses in upon us, we are often perplexed to know what course to pursue. But right here James says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” James 1: 5. We should not, then, lean upon our own wisdom alone, for Satan is wiser than men; neither should we move rashly or parley with the enemy, entering into temptation, as it were, tempting the devil to tempt us. If we do this, we shall certainly be overcome.

When we are in heaviness through manifold temptations, we are apt to think that our temptations are greater than those of others. But Paul says, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man.” And he adds: “But God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Cor. 10: 13. Blessed promise! But it is understood that there are conditions to be complied with in order to have it verified to us. We must watch and pray, that we enter not into temptation, and earnestly strive to overcome, remembering that not only has Christ been tempted in all points, but that, having all power in Heaven and earth at his command, he is also able to succor those who are tempted. And to sum up the whole question, Paul says, “Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.” Verse 14. He had been speaking of those things that happened unto the Israelites in the wilderness for examples or types, and which had been “written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come.” We are not now in danger of bowing to and playing before a golden calf, yet we are in danger of yielding to spiritual idolatry, which is the worst type of idolatry. We have idols to overcome, before which we are inclined to exult as the Israelites did before the golden calf. Now if we overcome these idols, and give God our best affections, we may safely expect that he will work deliverance for us.

The promises to those who endure temptations are encouraging. Says James, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation, for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love him.” James 1: 12. And Christ says, “Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations; and I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” Luke 22: 28-30. Surely here is enough to induce us to turn away from the allurements of sin.

D. T. BOURDEAU.